CMC enters the world of “Big Cat” Jaguar models with an impressive roar with a planned line-up of five 1/18 Jaguar C-Type models. C-Type is actually the short name for the car whose full name is the XK120-C. The famous XK120 began production in 1949 and when Sir William Lyons decided he wanted to give Jaguar a racing halo, his designer William Heyenes evolved it to the C-Type with the “C” standing for Competition. And boy, did it ever compete…well, at least for two of its three year history. In 1951 and 1953, it was a Le Mans winning car. Those race wins were bookended by the 1952 effort where all three C-Types were classified DNF within the first four hours of the race. The 1952 C-Type was reconfigured for improved aerodynamics made possible with a smaller radiator and the change made the cars susceptible to overheating. It’s perhaps little surprise that CMC version chose to make the non-liveried version the 1952 1/18 model.

No matter the result at Le Sarthe, it is one cool cat.

CMC 1/18 models always look and feel great right out of the box. Part of that is the box and what comes with it, the secure coffin packaging, cleaning cloth, and all the goodies to help feature your model whether it is part of a one of one desktop collection or it add star power to your collection cases. The heft of this gorgeous casting has a quality feel and the understated shimmer from the glossy British Racing Green paint.

The open cockpit provides a great view of the dash complete with detailed, accurately painted gauge face, the Jag logo steering wheel and the luxurious saddle leather seats. CMC simultaneously executes for accuracy while engaging the collector’s eye with effervescent engineering. Take the rear view mirror that Jaguar inelegantly bolted on top of the cockpit surround, or the dogleg diagram on the gear shift or the six spark plugs visible on opening the driver’s side door. The ‘waterproof’ (not like I’m going to test it, right?) cloth tonneau cover attaches to metal tabs with magnets. That does make it difficult to pull tight as your pit crew would want to for barreling down the Mulsanne Straight but does make it easy to peel back and see the fuse box.

Wondering why you should get a CMC Jaguar C-Type when a capable Auto art version is available? Look no further than the headlights. Not only the superior textured glazing and other parts, including detailed mounting points and bezels for the light and cover. See the photos with the front bonnet up to appreciate how these are authentically modeled they are, even from the rear. Now that example of precision is also applied to the grill, front bonnet latches, windshield fuel filler cap. The extraordinary wheel and tire detail has become a CMC calling card. Hundreds of parts go in to the hand laced wire wheels with working Jaguar badged knock-off wheels that hold the Dunlop racing rubber.

That the CMC would model all the Jaguar 1/18 body accoutrements with style and panache wouldn’t be a surprise. So it was unexpected that the leather belts tethering the bonnet were tissue thin. I tore both of them trying to undo them even with CMC’s stellar incisor tweezers and it’s not like this is my first rodeo. That said, let me remind the reader samples sent to the press for review often have quality issues that are rectified in final production. That said, be very cautious when unbuckling them if you want to keep them intact. Once open, the 3.4 liter straight six engine is a marvel and like all CMC engines is obsessively engineered for realistic look and feel with full plumbing and wiring.

With such a stellar first effort, the hope here is that CMC produces more models reflecting the racing heritage of Jaguar. Its efforts with the Aston Martin have been first rate in quality but have met with mixed reviews in terms of fidelity to the original designs. To my eye, the Jaguar C-Type is a superior model and can only hope what follows are D-Types and other XK variants that are as sleek and seductive as this extremely satisfying big cat.